and extending 22 yards wide for 26 yards further." There is also a "pleasant terrace walk and summer-house, with sashed windows and sashed doors, adjoining to the open fields, and commanding a prospect of four miles distance." But we must quote this advertisement entire. The date of it is December 5, 1743.
To be Sold and entered upon at Lady-day next, a Large Messuage or Dwelling House, situate in Temple-Street, Birmingham, in the Possession of Mr. Charles Magenis, containing twelve Yards in the Front, four Rooms on a Floor, sashed and fronted both to the street and Garden, good Cellaring and Vaults, Brew-house and Stable with an entire Garden walled, and the walls covered with Fruit Trees, the Garden 12 Yards wide, and 50 Yards long from the Front of the House, and extending 22 Yards wide for 26 Yards further, together with a pleasant Terrace Walk, and Summer-House with Sash'd Windows and Sash'd Doors, adjoining to the open Fields, and commanding a Prospect of four Miles Distance, and all necessary conveniencies. Likewise another House in the same Street in the tenure of Mr. George Orton, with large Shops, Gardens, and Summer-House, pleasantly situated, commanding a good Prospect; and set at nine Pounds and ten shillings per annum.
Enquire of Charles Magenis in Temple-Street aforesaid.
On the 12th of the same month appears the following advertisement, from which it will be seen that Aston was then stated to be "nigh Birmingham"; it is always so described in old deeds:—
To be Sold to the best Bidder, on Monday, the 19th of December instant, at the Dwelling House of Francis Cox, the Angel and Hen and Chickens in Birmingham, a Messuage, now known by the Sign of the Red Lion, with about thirteen Acres of Meadow and Pasture Land, situate in Bordsley, in the Parish of Aston, nigh Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, now in the Holding of Thomas Cooper, but late in the Tenure of Mr. Thomas Warren.
Carr's Lane in the year 1745 was a very different place to that with which we are now familiar. The turning from the High Street is termed in the following report of a fatal accident "very steep." This fact shows the great changes which have been made in this part of the town. The accident occurred on Wednesday, the 1st of January in 1745—a sad opening of the new year for those related to the unfortunate, though careless driver. The paragraph recording the event is as follows:—
Birmingham, January 6.—On Wednesday last, a Man who was turning a loaded Waggon from the High Street in this Town, down Car's Lane, a very steep Turning, without Loking the Wheels, by the sudden Motion of the Waggon he was knock'd down by the Shafts, and the Wheels going over him, he received so much Hurt that he died in an Hour afterwards.
The words "cherry orchard" have a pleasant sound. They conjure up visions of lovely country spots, redolent with blossom and fruit
